Bangladesh can be called a country of Mosques because we have more than 250000 mosques in our country. Mosques have been established in this country since ancient times. These mosques bear the imprint of the architecture of different regions during different regimes. Choto Sona mosque is one of those ancient mosques which bears a history of more than 500 years.

Choto Sona Masjid has located in the Shahbazpur union of Shibganj Upazila in Chapainawabganj district of the Rajshahi division. The mosque was built between 1493 and 1519 during the Sultanate regime. An inscription found on the door of the mosque states that the mosque was built by a man named Wali Mohammad during the reign of Sultan Alauddin Hussain Shah.

According to history, the mosque used to reflect golden light when the sun directly fell on it and that is why it was named Sona Masjid (Sona means gold). The mosque is also known as Gaur Ratna.

The whole mosque is made of bricks with a layer of stone on it. It has six round domes on each side and three domes in the middle which are known as chauchala. The mosque is surrounded by four towers. There are five doors in front of the mosque and all of those are crafted with beautifully carved designs. There is a stair in the North part that leads to a special room on the second floor inside the mosque. The room is known as Jenana-Mahal. The outside environment of the mosque is very well decorated, clean, and full of greenery that gives a refreshing vibe.

How to go

The distance from Dhaka to Chapainawabganj is almost 300 kilometers. You can go there by road, rail and by air as well. If you want to go to Chapainawabganj by bus from Dhaka, you can go to Chapainawabganj via Rajshahi or directly. And If you want to travel by train or plane from Dhaka, you need to go to Rajshahi first and then to Chapainawabganj. Once you reach Chapainawabganj you will easily get a direct bus or autorickshaw which will take you to your destination.

Where to stay and eat

In Chapainawabganj city there are some hotels. Although there is no accommodation in the vicinity of the mosque, there are several good restaurants in Chapainawabganj and of course, don't forget to taste the famous Chamcham of Shibganj.